30 Oktober 2009

Australia's Second A-330 MRTT Final Testing in Spain

30 Oktober 2009

RAAF's A-330 MRTT (photo : Flight Global)

Australian A330MRTT Returns to Spain for Final Testing

The Royal Australian Air Force's second of five Airbus Military A330 Multi-Role Tanker-Transports (MRTT) has completed conversion and initial flight testing in Brisbane.The aircraft has been flown via the USA back to Airbus Military's home facility in Getafe, near Madrid, for further modification and final test flights.

The aircraft is the type's first non-Getafe conversion. The work was done by Qantas Aviation Services, which will also convert the remaining three aircraft destined for the RAAF, which will receive the first aircraft by mid-2010.

In RAAF trim the aircraft, derived from the Airbus A330-200 airliner, features an Airbus Military air refuelling boom system with fly-by-wire controls and two under-wing hose-and-drogue pods.